Commissioner Fajardo resigns from ICI

Commissioner Rossana Fajardo announced Friday her resignation from the Independent Commission for Infrastructure (ICI) effective December 31, 2025.

“I have completed the work I set out to accomplish when I was appointed, ensuring that the foundational goals of the Commission have been met,” Fajardo said in a statement.

“I believe that the investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities will now transition to other agencies, such as the Department of Justice and the Office of the Ombudsman, which are better positioned to ensure accountability for contractors and government officials,” she added.

Fajardo also pointed to the recent legislative developments, including the prioritization of bills creating the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption and the Independent People’s Commission. 

For her, a permanent commission with enhanced powers will be more effective in supporting the Ombudsman's office in prosecuting parties involved in irregular government infrastructure projects.

“It has been a profound honor to serve alongside individuals who are deeply committed to transparency and accountability, dedicating themselves selflessly to the Filipino people. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a collective mission that prioritizes the welfare of our citizens,” she said.

Malacañang recognized Fajardo's role in ICI to gather, study, and assess the evidence in order to file cases against those responsible for the anomalous flood control projects. 

"She has already accomplished her tasks based on her mandate. Ngunit patuloy pa rin ang pag iimbestiga kasama ang iba pang investigating bodies. Hindi pa tapos ang laban ng administrasyon kontra korapsyon," Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said.

Presidential Communications Office Secretary Dave Gomez echoed this. 

“Ms. Fajardo was brought in for a clear financial forensic purpose- to closely review the money linked to the projects under investigation and help trace where public funds went. That work is now finished,” he said.

“Her full findings will form part of the ICI’s recommendations to the Ombudsman and will also be turned over to the proper government offices, including the Commission on Audit, so the process can move forward. Her role was always meant to be temporary and focused only on this mandate,” he added.

Going forward, Gomez said the ICI will now focus its work on final reports and the proper handover of documents to offices like the Office of the Ombudsman for the next steps.

“The President thanks Ms. Fajardo for her service and for helping ensure that public funds are properly accounted for. This forms part of the broader effort to make the government more honest, more transparent, and more responsive to the needs of the people,” he said.

In a statement, ICI chairperson Andres Reyes Jr. said Fajardo's resignation “comes at a natural point in the Commission's work.”

He noted that the Commission was created with a “clear, time-bound mandate” to gather evidence, establish facts, and propose corrective measures.

With this, Reyes said ICI will now focus on finalizing referrals that will be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman.

“To ensure the fulfillment of its mandate, the Commission will now focus on finalizing the  remaining items that will be submitted to the Office of the Ombudsman in order to strengthen and  add to the growing number of cases that will eventually be filed with the courts, and hold those  involved accountable,” he said.

“The Commission remains fully committed to submitting all its final recommendations and  ensuring that the appropriate institutions — particularly the Ombudsman — have everything they  need to bring these cases forward,” he added.

Opposition lawmakers expressed belief that ICI is already at its "end."

“This can very well be the end of ICI. Dapat kasi meron nang ICAIC by now,” House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima, a former Justice chief, said in reference to the Independent Commission Against Infrastructure Corruption (ICAIC).

Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña, for his part, said ICI was marred with more resignations than achievements.

“Ba't imbis na ulo ng mga korap, puro resignations ang binibigay sa atin ng ICI? Two out of three down, Bibingo na ang ICI  (Instead of targeting those who are corrupt, all ICI gave us are resignations; it is about to hit bingo),” Cendaña said. —with a report from Llanesca Panti/AOL, GMA Integrated News